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Jason Mackey's sports chat: 08.09.24
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Jason Mackey
11:36
Hey, everyone. It's gameday. Thanks for stopping by my Friday chat. You know the drill. We'll get started at noon.
12:01
And away we go ...
Mitch
12:01
Hey Jason, I hope you are well. If the Pirates miss the playoffs do you see Shelty getting fired due to the blown saves and etc. On the other side of things if the Pirates do make the postseason do you see them going to the NLDS?
Jason Mackey
12:03
Hi Mitch. I do not. I think it would take A LOT for them to act on Shelton. They certainly don't want to do anything other than keep him. That's my believe, anyway. If it all goes to hell, maybe they do something. But I don't see that happening. Also, can we stop and appreciate what a Pirates question this is: Are they going to fire the manager or get to the NLDS? (I could absolutely see that if they get in.)
Cullen
12:03
Do you have any insight into how long Sheltons extension that he signed was for? I'm not going to beat a dead horse but his in game decisions are costly and frankly I don't think he is a coach capable of leading this team to a World Series. Being able to get players trust and relate to them is only a piece of the puzzle. (I will give Shelton credit, he does this part of management extremely well). Could the Pirates pivot to someone who has won a WS before, someone like Joe Maddon maybe?
Jason Mackey
12:04
They could, sure. But I don't think it's likely. See above for my answer on how they feel about Shelton. I believe his extension runs through the 2025 season, but that's also a belief and not firm reporting. They're incredible secretive about this stuff.
Cullen
12:04
At what point do we go back to a closing by committee approach with  the bullpen struggles? I'd really like to see Carmen and Nicholas get some high leverage innings to see how they handle it. Kyle in particular looks like a future closer!
Jason Mackey
12:04
Carmen is hurt, so I wouldn't hold your breath. I think that's probably a good longer-term goal. Immediately, like this series, I would have Chapman do it and let Bednar get right.
JF
12:04
Ughhh...My Buccos bets are going up in flames- playoffs look very highly unlikely now, Skenes likely to have limited innings so Cy Young highly unlikely..help me out Jason- tell me they still win over 74.5 games???
Jason Mackey
12:06
They're 56-58. They have 48 games left. I think they're entirely capable of finishing 20-28 -- and likely much better. That puts them at 76 wins.
Will
12:06
Is Shelton overdue for trying something creative with the flailing bullpen? With Jones returning soon should Ortiz be returned to BP role, only leverage one rather than long? Any chance Pirates try Chandler in relief role down stretch?
Jason Mackey
12:07
I would not mess with Ortiz. They could go back to a committee approach closing games. That wouldn't shock me. Chandler ... maybe. But it would be like a Ro '21 cameo thing. I think that would be a lot to put on his plate. Depends on how he fares at Triple-A, obviously. But adjusting roles in the bullpen -- your original question -- yeah, they're due for that.
Cullen
12:07
I know that Endy is getting some work at 1B and has played 2B and in the outfield some in the past. Is Endy getting more work elsewhere because of the TJ surgery and the Pirates dont see him as a catcher anymore? I thought he and Hank had the best catching arms and wasting either at 1B is less than ideal. Frankly I'd like to see if Bart can do it since he has the worst arm of the 3, isn't the best framer, and isn't as defensively sound as Endy. I wouldn't be against a rotation of Bart, Hank, and Endy between C, 1B, DH with the occasional corner OF or 2B start for Endy. That should get everyone some rest and keep their bats in the lineup.
Jason Mackey
12:09
More questions than my wife territory, brother ... I think Bart has become their starting catcher. There's nothing wrong with that. To me, you get someone and keep him there. It's a big need they've filled. Endy has a career OPS under .600 at the major league level. I like him a lot. But I'm not giving him anything. He has to earn it. I think Endy's doing what he's doing to give himself options.
Ben
12:09
Pls comment on Derek Shelton’s lack of urgency. Feels like there have been some must win games over the last month where he trots out a line up with 3-4 sub .200 hitters and/or he’ll refuse to use pinch hitters like Cutch, De La Cruz or Bart in key late inning moments.
Jason Mackey
12:11
I don't know if I would call it lack of urgency. Shelton can see the standings. I think it's probably a misguided belief in a process. I don't always agree with his decisions, and I certainly disagree with the recent ones, but I don't know if "lack of urgency" is the label I would use. It's often a misguided amount of faith in players. Or so it seems. Believing Holderman can do it, wanting to believe Grandal can or continuing to do the same things with Bednar.
TVC15
12:11
Hi Jason, In your opinion is Brandon Aiyuk truly a #1 receiver ahead of Samuel, Kittle, and McCaffrey? Because the NFL has a long history of #2 receivers going to new teams and being underwhelming.
Jason Mackey
12:12
Thank you for the non-football question. I worry about this -- about how much of what Aiyuk has done has been system-related. Or talent-around-him-related. It's why I would be uncomfortable paying him $30ish million. He could be really good. But, like you said, he could also come here and not figure it out -- though I do think he would be a great football add to what they're doing.
Cullen
12:12
Does Konnor Griffin get any ABs at Bradenton this year?
Jason Mackey
12:12
I would be surprised. There's work to do on his swing. Not a ton of season left. Not sure I'd see the point in pushing it.
Cullen
12:13
If IKF keeps hitting to the midpoint of next year do the Pirates extend him and make him our starting SS during our window?
Jason Mackey
12:13
There's a long way to go on this hypothetical train. It's been a week of him being a Pirate.
Ron in MD
12:13
Does anybody within the Pirate organization admit that they have screwed up the development of Henry Davis?
Jason Mackey
12:14
He's a 24-year-old with 91 games of MLB experience. I'm not sure anything final has been determined with Davis.
SDWC
12:14
Is it time to let Chapman close for awhile?
Jason Mackey
12:14
I would. Let Bednar get himself worked out. Might then go to matchups/leverage over one specific guy.
SDWC
12:14
Is there more going on behind the scenes than what we are being told about Russell Wilson’s injury?
Jason Mackey
12:15
That's not my understanding. He's 35. You know his accomplishments. What does Russell Wilson need to show now? The intent was for him to start. He's gonna get a chance to do that. I just think they're slow-playing this because it makes sense and they can. The extra reps have helped Justin Fields.
Bern
12:15
Does Fields really have a shot to unseat Wilson as starter with a strong preseason and camp or is this just one of those camp stories that get some traction but is actually nonsense?
Jason Mackey
12:15
The latter. I fully expect Russ to start Week 1, barring something unforeseen.
Munkeefist
12:15
Grandal is Skenes personal catcher at this point it seems. Would it be wise for him to start working with Bart a little in games as Grandal is on a one year deal? The Pirates can't possibly resign him next year and create a real log jam at catcher just because Skenes likes him can they? And please, please stop bunting!! Thanks for the chat!!
Jason Mackey
12:17
Ha. The bunting thing made me laugh. No, I think you're overcooking this. Grandal will be gone. Bart will stay. They have all spring to work together. Maybe you change it up because you want Bart's bat against a certain pitcher, I don't know. But I think Grandal has actually been a lot better since shifting into a traditional backup role. I'd keep doing that.
Tom M.
12:17
I know it’s best to have a franchise QB. But, these contracts for QBs have gone crazy. Majomes
Jason Mackey
12:17
You're not wrong.
Tom M.
12:17
I know it’s best to have a franchise QB. But, these contracts for QBs have gone crazy. Mahomes is worth it but I’m not sure about the others. At what point do you think it’s reached that paying the QBs so much that a team can’t realistically win a championship since they won’t have cap room to build a good enough team around him?
Jason Mackey
12:18
Sorry. Just saw the other part of this. ... It's part of why I worry about the Aiyuk contract. The Steelers are getting by crazy cheap right now at QB. I'm not expecting that to continue. They need to be able to pay that guy.
Justin
12:18
In the past few years, has anyone with the Pirates ever given you a sense of anything resembling "man, we really wish this was going better than it is"?   Any semblance of "man we are really upset and figuring out why our hitting so bad in the majors and why we have so few legit hitting prospects".  Just any legitimate inkling that the team is aware and/or regretful that this situation isn't very impressive or where it should be as year 5 (of what was an extreme tear it down rebuild) ends?  They just really give an impression that it's going exactly as it should be going and that they feel like they're doing a great job, IMO.
Jason Mackey
12:21
It's a weird dynamic. And one that would take more to explain. But some bullet points:
Yes, they are. A great deal. There's so much professional reputation-type stuff at state. Nobody wants to stink. Of course they get mad.
There's also plenty of ... I don't know how to describe it ... obstinance, arrogance, conviction, something. They very much believe in what they're doing.
Which, in some cases, I think it's admirable. But I think sometimes the Pirates struggle to take a step back and look at themselves honestly.
One example: the approach. Is this really best for everyone? I don't think so. They have some guys who should think less thinking way too much (Jack, Cruz).
They also do weird stuff like randomly DFA'ing Roansy, Honeywell Jr. or Olivares that people on the outside have a tough time understanding.
But the mistakes aren't for lack of effort or care, if that makes sense.
Tom M.
12:21
You followed the Pirates for a long time. Can you remember a time when there was optimism but then the team failed so miserably as we’re seeing now? There have been worse teams but nobody expected much then.
Jason Mackey
12:22
I would say the runup to 2013-15 was similar to this. However, yeah, with the whole Skenes dynamic, adding some at the deadline, winning 5 of 6 series, then having it come apart the way it did ... not sure there's a recent comp that would fit.
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